Rotary steam-engine



(No Model.)

8 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. P. LAWRENZ.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

No. 349,108. Patented Sept. 14, 1886.

INVENTOR (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shae; 2. V

. W. F. LAWRENZ.

I ROTARY STEAM ENGINE. No. 349,108. Patented Sept. 14, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. LAWBENZ, on DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.

EPECIPICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 349,108, dated September14, 1886.

Application filed Fehruaryl'i, 1886. Serial No.1952,216. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. LAWRENZ, of the city of Duluth, St. Louiscounty, and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and Improved RotarySteam-Engine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved rotarysteam-engine which is simple in construction, direct in its action, andcan be reversed at any point of its stroke.

The invention consists of a concentric disk and shaft, of a valveprovided with inlet, outlet, and reversing ports, and of devices whichoperate the valve from the main shaft.

The invention also consists of various parts and details, andcombinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, andthen pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of my improved rotary engine. Fig. 2 is across-sectional elevation on the line w it, Fig.1. Fig. 3 is a sectionalend elevation, with part of the casing removed. Fig. 4 is a sectionalview of the valve and the steam-chest. Fig. 5 is an end view of thevalve and connections and the steam-chest. Fig. 6 is a plan view of theslide operating the valve.

The casing A of my rotary engine is made in two parts or plates, A andA, each provided with an annular recess, A Between the parts A and A isfitted a disk, B,having a projecting piston, B, moving in the recesses Aof the plates A and A". The disk B is mounted on a shaft, 0, which hasits bearings in the side plates, A and A, of the casing A.

The part-A of the casing A is providedwith a recess, A*, which opensinto the annular recess A", and in which moves the slide 1). operatedfrom the main shaft (J by means of the cam E, having a groove, E, inwhich works the ball-shaped lower end of the lever F, pivoted on an arm,F, attached to the part A of the casing and connected by a link, G, tothe slide-rod D.

To the top of the casing A is secured the steam-chest H, having acylindrical valve-seat, H, in which is placed the cylindrical valve I,

provided with the straight .inlet-port a, the outlet b, and atrightangles to the same the ports 0 and d, which cross each other. Thevalve-seat H connects with the annular recess A in the casing A by meansof the ports e and f, each placed at one side of the recess A, in whichthe slide D operates. The valveseat H is provided on top with asteam-inlet,

H and asteam-exhaust, H.

To the valve I is attached the valve-rod I, which extends to the outsideof the steamchest H, and is provided on its extreme outer end with ahandle, J, by means of which the valve I can be turned in its valve-seatH. To the valve-rod I is also fastened a collar, K, having adownwardly-projecting lug or pin, K, to which is attached afriction-roller, K", placed in the groove L of the slide L, which slidesin the transverse guide M, formed on the extension H on one side of thesteamchest H. The slide L is connected by the links N and O to the upperend of the lever F.

The operation is as follows: \Vhen the rotary engine is to be started,the several parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, and the steamentering the inlet H" passes through the port a in the valve I to theport 0, and into the annular recess A, where it exerts a pressureagainst the piston B in the'direction of the arrow at, as the slide Dprevents the steam from passing around the annular recess A in theinverse direction of the arrow at. The piston B consequently rotates inthe annular recess A, and carries with it the disk B and the shaft 0.Before the piston reaches the port f the slide D is withdrawn from theannular recess A into the recess A, by the action of the lever F and thegroove E in the cam E, at tached to the shaft 0, and at the same timethe valve I slides to the rightin the valve-seat H, therebydisconnecting the respective ports a and b in the valve I from the ports6 and f,

leading to the annular recess A by means of the lever F pulling theslide L in the direc tion of the arrow 1), (see Fig. 6,) whereby thefriction-roller travels to the left and carries with it the valve-rodI,and consequently the valve I. As soon as the piston B has passed theports f and e, the slide D is again moved into the annular recess A andthe slide L and the valve I are drawn back to the positions shown inFig. 3 by means of the lever F, so

recess A again.

as to connect the parts a and b of the valve I with the ports 6 andf,leading to the annular The steam exhausts in the forward movement of thepiston B by the ports f and I) to the exhaust H.

The engine can be reversed at any point of its stroke by giving aquarter-turn to the handle-lever J, so that the crossed ports 0 and dare connected with the ports 0 and f, leading to the annular recess A,and with the outlet and inlet openings H and H in thesteamchest H. Theoperation is the same, only in the inverse order, as described above.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. In a rotary steam-engine, the casing A,having the annular recess A, the recess A, the ports 6 andf, and thevalve I, having the port-s'a and I), in combination with the disk B,provided with the piston B, the shaft 0, and the slide D, substantiallyas herein shown and described,

2. In a rotary steam-engine, the casing A, having the annular recess A,the recesss A*, and the ports a and f, the disk B, provided with thepiston B, the shaft 0, and the slide D, in combination with thesteam-chest H, having the valve-seat H, and the valve I,hav-

3o ing the ports a, b, c, and d, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.

3. In a rotary steam-engine, the casing A, the disk B, provided with thepiston 13, the

shaft 0, the slide D, the slide-rod D, and the valve I, in combinationwith the cam E, having a groove, E, the lever F, the links G, O, and N,the slide L, having a groove, L, the friction-roller 1F, and the collarK, attached to the valve-rod l, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.

4. In a rotary steam-engine, the casing A, having the ports 0 and f, thesteam-chest H, having the valve-seat H, and the ports H. and H, and thevalve I, having the straight ports a and b and the crossed ports 0 andd, in combination with the valve-rod I, the collar K, the slide L,having a recess, L, the frictionroller K, and the lever J, substantiallyas herein shown and described.

5. In a rotary steam-engine, the casing A, the disk 13, provided withthe piston 13, the shaft 0, the slide D, the slide-rod l), the link G,and the steaurehest H, having a valve-seat, H, in combination with thevalve I, having the straight ports a and b and the crossed ports 0 andd, the valve-rod 1, the lever J, the collar K, the friction-roller K theslide L, having a groove, L, and operated by means of the links N and 0from the lever F, actuated by the cam E, having a groove, E,substantially as herein shown and described.

\VILLIAM F. LA\V1 -ENZ.

lVitnesses:

RICHMOND D. hIALLE'l, EMIL HAR'IMANN.

